Alkoxyallene anion in the synthesis of natural products and their analogues

Among diverse systems containing multiple bonds, cumulenes are recognized as the most reactive derivatives towards both nucleophilic and electrophilic agents, and for this reason, they are considered as important class of substrates for organic synthesis. Over the last three decades alkoxyallenes have been demonstrated as highly useful C3-building blocks for the construction of numerous N-, O-, and S-containing heterocycles, including enantiomerically pure compounds. Special attention has been paid to lithiated alkoxyallenes as suitable nucleophiles for the reactions with alkyl halides, strained heterocycles, carbonyl compounds and their derivatives. The presence of the allene unit in the initially formed adducts opens up several possibilities in the preparation of more complex systems. In this review, selected applications of lithiated alkoxyallenes in the synthesis of natural products and their analogues are discussed